Washing-machine



' (No Model.)

P. G. POWERS.

WASHING MACHINE.

No. 296,617. Patel lted Apr. 8, 1884.

INVENTOR: 4

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEYS.

NITED STATES lATENl tries.

rnnnois o. rovvnns, on CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS.

WASHING-MACHINE.

$PI-3CIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,617, dated April 8, 1884.

Application filed July 20, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be itknown that I, Fnancrs G. Pownas, of Ohampaign, in the county of Ohampaign and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in W'ashingMachines; and I do hereby declare that the i'ollowingis a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which Figure l is a vertical section of the lower part of the washing-machine, and Fig. 2 is an end view of the pounder.

My invention relates to washing-machines of that class in which alever is arranged upon a fulcrum above a tub or receptacle forwa'ter, and is connected to a vertically working pounder, which is operated in said tub or receptacle by the movement of the lever.

My invention consists of the improved construction and arrangement of parts for securing a better connection between the pounderstem and its operating-handle, and means for making a better joint between the pounderstem and the cover, as well as an improvement in the pounder itself, as will be more fully described hereinafter.

In the drawings, A represents the tub or other receptacle for holding the water and clothes, which tub, near its top, is provided upon the inside with a projecting flange, a, upon which rests the conical or convex cover B. The cover is made conical or convex, so as to give more room for the stroke. This cover has in the center a short tube, 6, of a greater diameter than that of the pounderhandle, and at each end of the tube hasaperforated rubber disk or ring, a 0, through which the pounder-handle passes. These rings serve two purposes: first, as a guide or protection to the pounder handleor tube, to keep it from rubbing against the short tube b,- and, second, as asteain-escape for the tub, which will be steam and water tight, the cover being sustained upon the flange a and held down by a log or projection, d, which, when the cover is put on, passes through a notch, d, in the edge of the cover, after which the cover is turned about its center to secure it in place.

If desired, two lugs and notches maybe used.

When thus fastened down and the tub is tightly closed in, the flexible rubber rings allow pressure within to be'relieved by expan ding and permitting the steam to escape.

In securing the rubber rings in place one edge of each ring is expanded over the edge of the tube 1), and is there secured by a clamping-collar, e 6.

Instead of rubber rings, rings of canvas, leather, or other suitable material may be used.

In locating the flange a of the tub, I place it about three inches from the top, so as to leave room above it for the attachment of awringer.

G is the pounder, which is made bell-shaped, with a tubular handle, f, extending nearly to the lower edge, and having radial wings or braces 9 extending from the handle portion to the bell, and having perforations opening between said wings.

Near the lower edge of the bell there is an inwardly-projecting and downwardly-inclined skirt or flange, h, which serves to throw the current of air to the center to prevent it from splashingthe water when the cover is off.

Near the upper end of the tubular handle is a downwardly-opening valve to admit air on the upstroke, and above this the tube is connected to an end piece, D, which is hollow at its lower end and opens above it through openings in the side. This gives free access of air to the tube f without weakening the latter by perforations in its side. This end piece may be made of any suitable material, but preferably is made of malleable cast-iron.

For connecting the pounder-handle to the working-lever F, the end piece, D, has a series of holes, z, in its edge, which are adapted to receive a stud, j, projecting from one end of a slot, 7c, in the lever. This stud is secured toa strap, Z, fastened in one end of the slot, and the slot is long enough to permit the end piece to he slipped laterally away from the stud .when it is to be disconnected therefrom. To

hold it upon the stud when in normal action, a roller, m, is pivoted in the end of a hinged bar or frame, a, and when the latter is turned down parallel with the lever this roller holds the end piece, D, upon the stud, and affords a rolling abutment, against which the end piece rides or rocks in its up-and-down movement.

By adjusting the several holes i in the end from the pounder, and at its lower end said spring is fastened to the tub or fulcrum support, so as to cause its tension to pull the pounder up.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. The bellshaped pounder, having tubular handle with radial wings g,and an inwardlyprojecting and downwardlyinclined flange near its lower edge, as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the tub and the pounder, of the cover having a tube, 12, of larger size than the pounder-handle, and a flexible ring closing the joint between the tube and the pounder-handle, as and for the purpose described.

3. The cover B, having a tube, 11, with elastic rings 0 c and clamping-collars e e, in combination with the body of the receptacle and the plunger or pounder stem, as and for the purpose described.

i. The combination, with the body of the receptacle and the pounder, of the slotted lever F, having stud or projection at one end of the slot, the hinged roller-abutment m, and the pounder handle or stem, having openings in its side to receive the stud or projection in the slot of the lever, as and for the purpose set forth.

FRANCIS G. POWERS.

Witnesses:

B. T. SKINNERs, F. H. ALLWARDT. 

